Boomstudie 1801 - 1871

This is Cornelis Gerardus 't Hooft's tree study, made in the 19th century. 't Hooft, a white male artist, lived in a time when landscapes were used to convey ideas about nationhood and control. But here, we have a drawing of a bare tree. The focus isn't on a grand vista or a picturesque scene. Instead, it's on the simple form of a tree stripped bare. What does it mean to focus on a single tree when landscape painting was often about claiming territory? There's an intimacy here, an invitation to really look. Are we looking at a symbol of resilience or vulnerability? Perhaps 't Hooft is asking us to consider the details, the individual stories within a larger landscape. This simple sketch reminds us that even in the grandest narratives, there's always room for quiet observation and personal reflection.